Chapter 2

Neil

I stare in shock at the woman seated on my couch. She’s so familiar and so beautiful. Even after all these years, I never once forgot about her.

Allison.

“Neil?” She gasps out in surprise.

A lump forms in my throat.

“Allison.,” My voice is cold, collected. It hides the extent of my surprise, “Allison Walters. You’re the physical therapist that was recommended?”

What a stupid question. Of course she is. It has been five years–more than enough time for her to have completed her grad program.

She blinks and nods. For a second, none of us say a word. The temperature in the living room rises by several degrees.

I’m completely mesmerized, not only because I’m meeting her again. She’s so beautiful, even more than last time. Her auburn hair is shorter, framing the edges of her jaw. Her green eyes are big and pretty. Her lips are pouty, and I’m tempted to lean in and kiss her to know if she still tastes the same.

A memory flashes. Allison with her legs wrapped around my waist. I’m thrusting into her without mercy and she’s screaming my name…

“Are we going to start the interview now or…?”

I blink out of my thoughts to see her staring…no glaring at me. Her emerald eyes are filled with surprise, anger and…fear?

What’s wrong?

I snap out of it and tip my chin up. In an abrupt motion, I turn around and without looking back, I command,

“Sure. This way.”

I lead her to the first door at the end of the living room. My home office. I hold the door open and watch her walk past.

Stop staring at her like a creep!

“Have a seat,” I tell her as I settle into my chair. We’re across from each other and I have a clear view of her face.

Just the way I like it.

Allison looks around the office. Her pretty lips are twisted to the side.

“This is your home?”

“Now yes. As at the time we met…no.”

Her eyes slide to me, “Like it makes a difference.”

Woah. Why is she so hostile?

I have to bite my tongue to hold back my nasty reply. Clearing my throat, I ask politely, “How have you been Allison? It has been a long time and well… it’s good to see you again.”

“I wish I could say likewise, Neil. I really do.”

I raise an eyebrow at her shortness. “Is there a problem?”

She looks at me for a long while before sighing and giving me a fake smile.

“Not at all. I just want to be done with the interview and go home to my son.”

She places emphasis on the word ‘son’. Also, something stabs at my chest.

“Son?” I demand, “You have a son.”

Allison hesitates before nodding. Her eyes flicker with dread, like she said something she shouldn’t have.

I don’t know why but I’m struggling to come to terms with this new information.

“Are you married?” I ask. A part of me grimaces at the thought but I still want to know.

She recovers enough to snap sarcastically, “You called me “miss” earlier. I think that tells you…”

I’m dying with anticipation. “Just answer the question,” I cut in.

She holds my stare, “No. I’m not married.”

I hope my sigh of relief wasn’t audible. But then, I might be rejoicing too early. If she has a child, she could have a boyfriend or a fiancé–a long term partner.

“Are you in a relationship then?”

Allison glares wide eyed at me. She huffs, “How is any of this relevant to the interview?”

Just. Answer. The. Damn. Question.

I say nothing as I wait for her reply.

She rolls her eyes and deadpans, “ No, okay? I’m not in a relationship and I don’t want to be in one. Now can we please get on with the Interview? It’s been ten minutes already.”

Fair enough.

“Alright.” I lock my fingers together and place them on the table like an old school employer. “Since you’re here on referral, I’m going to be quick. How long have you been practicing?"

She sucks in a breath before answering, “Two years post graduation.”

My eyebrows jump. “Just two years?” My tone is condescending and rightfully so.

“Post graduation,” she snaps defensively, like I didn’t hear her the first time, “I started practicing effectively during my clinicals at PT school. So technically it’s three years.”

I shake my head. The person that referred her–an employee of mine, told me she’s really good. I’m surprised she has that much mastery after just two years…post graduation.

“You work with children?”

“Yes. The elderly too.” She looks around again, “Speaking of which, who am I going to be treating?”

“My son, Aaron.”

It’s her turn to gape at me. Her big green eyes widen even more, making her look unreal.

“You have…a son.” I can’t decide whether it’s a statement or a question.

“Yeah. Aaron. He’s ten.”

“Ten?!”

Why does she sound so surprised? It’s not like I’m too young to have a ten-year old. Granted, Aaron is my biological nephew, but I adopted him when his parents died. That makes him my son.

“Yes, he’s ten,” I frown at her reaction, “What’s the problem?”

Allison spits, “Were you still with his mother when you fucked me?”

Oh.

Ooohh.

She thinks I’m an irresponsible cheating scumbag. I can’t wait to burst her bubble.

I lean back into the swivel chair and swing from side to side. “That would be disturbing. His mother is…was my sister.”

I feel a savage satisfaction watching her expression change. It goes from angry to understanding then apologetic.

“I-I’m sorry,” she sputters, “I didn’t…”

“Of course you didn’t,” I grit out. Any mention of my sister leaves me an aggravated mess. I try to collect myself.

Her face falls even more.

I wave a hand in dismissal, not wanting her apologies or her pity.

“That’s beside the point. I adopted him and that’s all that matters.”

She looks down at her hands. I start to feel bad for dropping the truth on her the way I did.

“What’s his condition?” She asks in a small voice. At least she’s no longer glaring at me.

I open my mouth to speak but then I hesitate. This is unusual; I had no problems giving the other physical therapists all the details. Why am I reluctant when it comes to Allison?

A small voice whispers that it’s because I don’t want her to see me as anything less than perfect.

Still, I have to try. For Aaron.

I clear my throat and sit straight. “He had an accident a long time ago.” Five years ago. “It was really traumatic, and it messed up his legs.”

Allison is focused on me. God, she’s stunning.

“Did he have surgery?”

“Surgeries,” I correct, kissing my teeth, “Eighteen in total. He was doing well after the first five operations. Then he just worsened.”

Allison nods and picks up a notepad from her purse. She scribbles something down on it and as she writes, she inquires,

“Describe worsened.”

Three words, “He can’t walk.”

Her pen pauses on the paper. “Since when?”

“Two years now.”

For two years my son has been in a wheelchair, and it physically hurts me to see him in that condition.

“He has been to rehabilitation clinics all around the city, but no one has been able to do much with him,” I scrub my hands over my face in frustration.

I don’t even want to imagine what Allison must think of my life. It’s so messed up and it has always been that way.

I lower my hands and face Allison. Her expression is a careful, professional mask. But I still see the pity in her eyes.

Dammit.

My face twists into a bitter mask, “I don’t want your pity, Allison. I want you to help my son.”

She nods quickly and I know I have to ease my tone.

I breathe in and out to regain my composure. Then I give her a mild, detached look.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes, to pay whatever cost it’s going to take to get my son walking again.”

Her throat bobs. My change in demeanor has rattled her.

“I need you to give your very best,” I continue, noting the way her throat bobs as she swallows, “If there are any improvements, your pay will be doubled.”

She snaps her notebook shut and nods once.

“Yes, Mr. Holden.”

Mr. Holden?

“I’m going to try my best to help your son walk again.”

Satisfied with her reply, I stretch a hand out to her, “Then we have a deal.”

Allison stares at my outstretched hand in silence. For a second, I think she’ll leave me hanging.

Shake it.

She brings out her hand and clasps our palms together.

The feel of her soft skin against mine is electrifying, even though her fingers are cold and trembling. I feel it all the way down to my pants.

I want to use her arm as leverage to pull her across the table and on top my lap. I want to hold her like I did all those years ago. I want to see the part of her that led me to ecstasy that night.

My eyes flicker to her lips to see them part. The tension in the office becomes unbearable and I just want something to happen.

Something does happen but it doesn’t involve Allison and I. Instead, the door creaks open and I hear my son’s voice call out,

“Dad?”